'The Linburn Centre'

Scottish War Blinded

Our speaker this week was Sharon McAllister who is Rehabilitation Officer for The Linburn Centre (located at Wilkieston in West Lothian)

Sharon described a little of the history. A home for Scottish War blinded was first set up in 1915 in Newington, Edinburgh for soldiers and seamen who endured sight problems during the First World War. In 1939 airmen were included. The home moved to larger premises at Wilkieston after the Second World War. Many war blinded and their families were able to live in a number of houses which were specially built.

The new modern Linburn Centre was opened in 2010. This is a drop-in centre for any ex-service men or women who are visually impaired. The centre has a well equipped craft workshop with all the necessary equipment for woodwork, metal work, wire work, pottery and ceramics. Computers greatly assist people with a visual impairment and computing skills is another facet available to learn.

There is also the Outreach Service which encourages and allows war blinded to live at home with more independence. With less people now actually having been involved in actual war this service is now available to anyone who has served in the Armed Forces and has a slight impairment living in the Lothian and Borders or Aberdeen and Grampian.

Sharon delivered her address extremely professionally and with a lot of enthusiasm. The vote of thanks was given by Robert Menzies.
 

Report by Robert Menzies